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By Charles W. Sweetwood

THE Western phosphate field, virtually ignored for 40 years, has been undergoing a rapid climb to economic importance. Until World War II there seemed to be no reason for developing the phosphate rock region of the Intermountain Empire. But the tremendously increased demand for food production and the needs of many branches of the chemical industry changed all that. Quite suddenly a report made by the U. S. Geological Survey at the turn of the century became important. The survey showed that 60 pet of the nation's phosphate reserves were in the western phosphate field. Simplot Fertilizer Co. was one of the first to become actively interested in the development of the area. In August, 1945 the company began exploration of the Phosphoria Formation on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The result was the Gay Mine, about 18 miles east of Indian Agency Headquarters at Fort Hall, Idaho, developed to supply high grade phosphate rock for processing into superphosphate fertilizer at the company's Pocatello plant. Six ft of high grade oolitic phosphate rock (ranging from 32.5 to 34.5 pet P2O5) were discovered at the base of the Phosphoria Formation by diamond drilling and dozer trenching. High quality and thickness, plus the fact that the formation lay flat and near the surface made strip and open pit mining possible. In one year of mining, starting June 1946, a total of 53,000 tons of main bed oolitic phosphate rock was hauled to Pocatello for processing into supersulphate. The first year's operation was in

Jan 1, 1952

By A. G. McGregor

DURING the past 5 years, five new copper-smelting plants have been built and put into operation in the State of Arizona. The monthly copper output from these plants averages from 5,000,000 to 18,000,000 lb. Previously, there never was as much activity in copper-smelting plant construction in the same length of time in all the rest of the world. Naturally, in this amount of work, some new problems were met and new features in plant design and. equipment developed. Some of these features are described in this paper. CONCENTRATE HAULING, UNLOADING AND SAMPLING SYSTEM (a) Concentrate Car The International Smelting Co. has provided at its plant at Miami specially designed cars for hauling the concentrates from the mills of the Inspiration Copper Co. and the Miami Copper Co.. The car has a bottom that is readily made tight to hold flotation concentrates and is quickly and cheaply unloaded. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show views and details of the car. The main feature of this car is the slot in the bottom throughout its length, which is closed by means of short planks that overlap like ship-lap as shown by Fig. 1. At one end of the car an iron gate operated by a screw and hand wheel is provided, which clamps or presses the planks together, making the bottom tight. A removable tapered plug rests vertically over this gate when the loading of the concentrates at the mill commences.

Jan 8, 1916

By Arthur Winslow

Location.—The Liberty Bell gold-mine is in the San Juan region, in the southwestern corner of Colorado. It is situated about 2 miles from the town of Telluride, near the summit of the Uncompahgre range, at the head of Cornett basin, at an altitude of 11,000 feet, and in a district of excellent record in the past and of great promise for the future. In the immediate vicinity are such well-known and important mines as the Smuggler Union, with a total production of over $12,000,000; the Virginius and Revenue Tunnel group, with a production of probably $5,000,000; the Tom-Boy, with a production of probably at least $3,000,000; the Japan, the Cimarron, and a number of others. History.—The first prospecting in this district is reported to

Jan 1, 1900

By John L. Schroder

In selecting the best system of mining for a particular operation, many different factors must be considered. The system to be finally selected should be that which provides: 1) The highest possible degree of safety for mine personnel. 2) The lowest cost per ton of product. 3) The maximum coal production per man-shift. 4) The most suitable quality of final product, considering its intended use. 5) The maximum percent recovery of coal per acre of reserve consistent with cost and subsidence rights. 6) Consideration for the ecology of the area. Some of the important factors to be considered when choosing a method of mining are: 1) Amount of cover over the coal seam. 2) Type of the rock in the overburden. 3) Characteristics of the coal seam including: (a) the thickness of the coal seam; (b) the nature and location of any impurities or irregularities; (e) the dip (or pitch) of the coal seam; (d) the nature and direction of any definite cleavage ill the czoa1 seam; (e) the hardness of the coal; (f) the structural strength of the coal; and (g) the presence, anti amount, of explosive gas (methane). 4) Quantity of water likely to be encountered in the mining operation. 5) Nature and strength of the roof (top) over the coal seam. 6) Nature and strength of the floor (bottom) under the coal seam. 7) Any previous or concurrent mining in seams above or below the coal seam to be worked. Information on items 1-7 may be obtained in several ways. Topographical and geological reports and maps of the area are generally available

Jan 1, 1973

By J. J. Beeson

Fox the past fifty years or more, the structural features of the Cordilleran mountain system of western United States have presented some most interesting problems. Any geologist or engineer living in this region, or even making occasional examinations. of the mines, will lose much of interest and importance if he is not familiar with the literature. Some of the greatest works on geology have been the, result of studies carried on in sections of this region. Among the more important of the earlier works are those of Dutton,1. King,2 Gilbert,3 and Powell;4 of the more recent Lindgren,5 Ransome,6 Spurr,7 Butler,8 and others have contributed much. Many of the papers are largely of scientific interest but even these lay the foundation for the commercial application of the broader features of the geology. I have read many of these works with the keenest interest and pleasure; in fact, some have been read until some of the more important findings seem to be my own. In this paper, however, it is my aim to accept credit for little more than the labor of assembling some of the ideas of others. This is done with the hope that an interesting and valuable discussion will be the result. If some of the ideas presented should

Jan 9, 1925

By Paul A. Beck

While the recrystallization properties of most of the practically important metals are known in considerable detail, those of lead are still relatively little known in spite of some valuable contributions in recent years. This condition probably is due to the difficulties involved in applying the usual methods of investigation. The microscopic method of discriminating between the elongated deformed grains of the familiar lenticular shape and the equiaxed recrys-tallized grains is not successful with fully refined lead: lenticular grains cannot be seen under the microscope with any amount of deformation whatever. The probable cause of this phenomenon was recognized long ago. With large deformation the time of recrystallization at room temperaturc is shorter than the period of preparation of the specimen for microscopic examination; with small deformation the deformed grains arc not noticeably elongated in the first place. However, with small cleformation the migration of the grain boundaries can be observed. The only systematic investigations yet published on the recrystallization of lead, those by R. S. Russell, 1-3 make use of the conditions just described. Russell considered recrystallization completed when no further migration of boundaries could be observed. A serious objection to this method arises from the fact that there is no evidence to support the view that grain-boundary migration results only from recrystallization. If such migration does result from other sources after recrystallization is completed—after the deformed grains have been replaced by new unde-formed grains—the "time of recrystallization" as determined by Russell may be too long. Furthermore, the method is subject to the above.-mentioned limitation because of the unavoidable period of preparation of the sample. According to Russell, even with the fastest technique 5 min. clapsed before the deformed samples were ready for examination, and consequently no reearystallization time shorter than 5 min. could be measured. The lack of success in detecting the recrystallization of lead by the usual hardness or tensile tests is again caused by the time necessary for

Jan 1, 1940

By Paul A. Beck

While the recrystallization properties of most of the practically important metals are known in considerable detail, those of lead are still relatively little known in spite of some valuable contributions in recent years. This condition probably is due to the difficulties involved in applying the usual methods of investigation. The microscopic method of discriminating between the elongated deformed grains of the familiar lenticular shape and the equiaxed recrys-tallized grains is not successful with fully refined lead: lenticular grains cannot be seen under the microscope with any amount of deformation whatever. The probable cause of this phenomenon was recognized long ago. With large deformation the time of recrystallization at room temperaturc is shorter than the period of preparation of the specimen for microscopic examination; with small deformation the deformed grains arc not noticeably elongated in the first place. However, with small cleformation the migration of the grain boundaries can be observed. The only systematic investigations yet published on the recrystallization of lead, those by R. S. Russell, 1-3 make use of the conditions just described. Russell considered recrystallization completed when no further migration of boundaries could be observed. A serious objection to this method arises from the fact that there is no evidence to support the view that grain-boundary migration results only from recrystallization. If such migration does result from other sources after recrystallization is completed—after the deformed grains have been replaced by new unde-formed grains—the "time of recrystallization" as determined by Russell may be too long. Furthermore, the method is subject to the above.-mentioned limitation because of the unavoidable period of preparation of the sample. According to Russell, even with the fastest technique 5 min. clapsed before the deformed samples were ready for examination, and consequently no reearystallization time shorter than 5 min. could be measured. The lack of success in detecting the recrystallization of lead by the usual hardness or tensile tests is again caused by the time necessary for

Jan 1, 1940

The Year Book of the Institute is mailed with this Bulletin. Its membership lists, both alphabetic and geographic, are corrected to Jan. 1, 1918, but its list of officers is revised inn accordance with the elections in February, 1918. The amendment to the Constitution, relating, to qualifications for membership, adopted at the same time, is also inserted in its proper place. We would call attention to the Honor Roll, heading the list of membership. This includes the names of those whom we know (in February, 1918) to be on active military duty, as well as those who are rendering emergency service to the Government in other branches. We are aware that the list is not complete, and shall be grateful for information as to any omissions or corrections. Because of the rapid movement of the military members, their addresses have been omitted from the alphabetic list. Mail addressed to such members, and sent to the office of the Institute, will be forwarded to the best of our information at the time.

Jan 3, 1918

George Ellery Hale, Director of the Mount Wilson Observatory and Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences, who has been for the last ten years a Correspondent of the Academie des Sciences, Institut de France, has received the unusual honor of election as Associe Etranger, taking the place of Adolph von Baeyer, declared vacant by the Academy. The Foreign Associates are limited to twelve, and the high distinction has been held by only two Americans-Simon Newcomb and Alexander Agassiz. The National Research Council upon the presentation and acceptance of. Dr. Hale's resignation as its Chairman and the election of James R. Angell as his successor, created and bestowed in perpetuity upon Dr. Hale the title of Honorary Chairman in recognition of his services to the National Research Council and to Science and Research by indefatigable efforts that have contributed so largely to the organization of science for the assistance of the Government during the war, and the augmentation of the resources of the United States through the newly intensive cultivation of research in the reconstruction and peace periods that follow.

Jan 8, 1919

There were present eleven Directors, the Institute's Legal Counsel, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, and twenty-three guests. The Report of the Committee on Nominations (listed elsewhere) was presented and ordered to take the statutory course. The appointment of a Committee on Mine Taxation was approved. An Advertising Manager was appointed. E. G. Spilsbury and A. S. Dwight were appointed as representatives of this Institute on the Franco-American Engineering Committee. The Transactions were presented to the University of Louvain, and the monthly Bulletin to the French Technical Index. Permission was given to publish in full the argument of William H. Shockley on simplified spelling. A committee was appointed to have charge of the publication of the Raymond Memorial Volume. There were elected 70 members, 15 associates, and 1 junior associate. Three members were reinstated and the resignations of two were ac-cepted. The clues of 10 members who had been in active service with the allied armies were remitted. An extension of time for the payment of dues was granted to the 11 members.

Jan 12, 1919

IN recognition of thirty-one years' service as professor of mining in McGill University the friends of Dr. Porter gave him a complimentary dinner at Montreal, on Jan. 24. The affair was appropriately held under the auspices of the Montreal Branch of the Canadian Insti-tute of Mining and Metallurgy, George C. Riley presid-ing, and was made the occasion of presentation to him of a Canadian landscape painted by Maurice Cullen, and of a silver plate to Mrs. Porter. Among those speaking were Messrs. George E. Cole, F. D. Adams, Sir Arthur Currie, W. C. McBride, and J. G. Ross. Mr. Cole spoke of the large part Professor, Porter had played in the development of mining in Canada through training the men who had become the leaders in the work. More than 200 mining engineers graduated from the University during Dr. Porter's tenure of office and while not all of them had continued to practise their profession, as a body they had had an immense influence.

Jan 2, 1928

The Commissioner of Education has issued a call for a public conference on business training for engineers and engineering training for students of business. This conference, national in scope and character fully representative of all interests, will be held in Washington, D. C. on June 23 and 24. Educational institutions, commercial organizations, and educational and engineering societies will be given an opportunity to state their views. Engineers, educators and business men will be invited to discuss the following major topics: Business Training for the Engineer; Engineering Training for Commercial Enterprises; Significance of the. War Experience for Engineering Education; Training of the Engineer for Foreign Projects. This conference has been called on behalf of the Conference Committee on Commercial Engineering. This Committee is composed of administrative professors in engineering and commerce from several of the large educational institutions and representatives from the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, The American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, American Society .of Mechanical Engineers, and a committee f fifteen on Educational Preparation for Foreign Service.

Jan 6, 1919

By Robert Pike

THE first authentic description of an iron bath for the deposition of iron is probably that of Bottger in 1846, who used a bath containing ferrous sulfate and ammonium chloride. In 1861, Kramer deposited iron from ferrous chloride solution. Electrolytic iron was produced in 1.869 by Bietz, who used it for making some magnetic tests. In the same year, Klein is said to have worked out his process. Jacobi1 in 1869 described the results obtained in electroplating with iron on copper for making dies and plates for bank notes, by Klein's process. A letter from Klein to Jacobi describes the bath more fully. It consisted of FeSO4 + (NH4)2S04. Lenz2 described ?some properties of electrolytically precipitated iron. He used Klein's bath, FeSO4 + MgSO4 + MgCO3, to neutralize and obtained fine-grained and hard iron. His conclusions were as follows: 1. Electrolytic iron and copper contain gases, notably hydrogen. 2. The volume of gas absorbed by iron varies within wide limits, but it is easy for iron to take up very considerable quantities of gas. 3. The absorption of gas is principally in the first formed layers of iron. 4. When iron is heated, gas begins to come off below 100°, principally hydrogen. 5. Heated to redness, reduced iron oxidizes in water, in part at least at the expense of the oxygen of the water, decomposing it and setting free hydrogen, which is partly or wholly absorbed. Siemens,3 in 1889, was the first to propose a general process embodying a step for leaching a sulfide mineral with ferric chloride or sulfate and a step for regenerating the leach and depositing iron on a cathode in a diaphragm cell. So far as is known, Siemens did not carry out his patent

Jan 1, 1930

By Allen H. Rogers

THE need for coordinated effort on public problem by engineers has long been felt. Early in June there will assemble in Washington a conference composed of delegates from all the engineering organizations in the country. The call for this conference is issued by the Joint Conference , Committee of the four national societies as the completion of its work on the organization of a congress composed of delegates representing all the engineering organizations of the United States. The plan for this confederation was presented at a joint meeting of the administrative boards of the national founder societies on Jan. 23, 1920; and was unanimously approved in principle by that meeting. The work of the committee since that date has consisted in drafting a constitution of the organization to be presented at the conference for discussion and, after such amendments as may be adopted, acceptance.

Jan 1, 1920

C. G. Dunn (Generai! Electric Research Laboratory)— The author is to be commended on his attempt to calculate the residual strain energy from information on the dislocation density within the subgrains and a surface energy associated with the subgrains. However, much closer agreement between a calculated critical size of a nucleus and the observed size of grains that did not continue growing can be obtained if a reasonable correction is made in obtaining the energy of the surfaces of the subgrains. For example, since the sample is a single crystal with a cold-rolling reduction of 70 pct in thickness, one needs either an average disorientation for this or an average subgrain boundary energy rather than the 2.5 deg disorientation of a bent crystal, which was used by the author. From either the Laue photographs of the author or the pole density plot of Koh and Dunn 16 for a (113) [332] cold-rolled crystal the

Jan 1, 1961

By Cyril Stanley Smith, W. Earl Lindlief

A study of the mechanical properties of the alloys of copper and silver led to the discovery that the solubility of silver in copper was greatly different from that generally supposed, therefore some work was done to determine the solubility with greater accuracy than had previously been achieved. After the work had been completed, two papers were published' giving solubility figures which agreed closely with one another and with the work described herein. A detailed comparison of that work with the present will be given later. Preparation of Allots The copper used in making the alloys was electrolytic ingot of high purity. The silver was prepared by precipitation as chloride from nitric acid solution, followed by fusion of the washed precipitate with sodium carbonate and potassium nitrate. This method gives metal containing at least 99.99 per cent silver. The copper was first melted under charcoal in a small electric resistance furnace and the silver added as pure silver, it being unnecessary to make any intermediate alloys. After thorough stirring the metal was poured into a mold of suitable form. The alloys contained between 0.008 and 0.015 per cent of oxygen. Small amounts of oxide were visible under the microscope, but it is not believed this would have much effect on the results. Copper-silver alloys are notorious for segregation, consequently a few experiments were carried out to find a form of casting with as little segregation as possible. A mold 6 in. long and 1/2-in. dia. was first used, and an alloy nominally containing 5 per cent silver was cast in it, while some of the same alloy was poured directly into water to obtain the maximum rate of cooling possible. Analyses were made both on this sample and on turnings from the top and bottom of the 1/2 in. dia. cast-ing, the turnings being separated into three parts according to the position

Jan 1, 1932

By Murray Kaufman

Using en; 41 for a base alloy, 15 modifications were made in sheet form. The elements Al, Ti, C, Mo, Co, and Cb were varied. The effects on the phases formed and their temperature dependence, the aging characteristics, tensile and stress-rup- ture properties, and weld cracking were determined. The A1-Ti content and balance is the most important factor influencing the major sCrengthening phases [Ni,Ti and Ni,(Al, Ti)] and, consequently, mechanical properties. THE mechanical properties, fabricating and joining characteristics, dimensional stability, and so forth, of alloys containing secondary phases are largely determined by the phases present, their distribution, and their temperature dependence. The phases in the basic ternary and quaternary Ni-Cr-Al-Ti combina- tions have been investigated thoroughly.'* The phase behavior of many commercial nickel-base alloys has been determined also. In some cases, for example U500, 5 the effect on mechanical properties has been found. However, little systematic work has been done to clarify the action of each of the important alloying elements in controlling the phases formed in complex commercial alloys and their behavior. The effect of molybdenum on the carbides formed in M252 was investigated by Beattie and verSnyder.6 Application of the results provided by that work

Jan 1, 1963

By C. O. Burgess, W. D. Forgeng

The results of an investigation of the ternary system iron-chromium-silicon were reported in 1936 by the present authors.l Partly for the sake of theoretical interest, and partly because of the possible commercial importance of these alloys, the present investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of some of the commoner elements likely to occur, deliberately or otherwise, in such alloys if made on a commercial scale. The elements thus added were carbon, nickel or manganese. The alloys studied were, therefore, parts of quaternary systems. This investigation was concerned primarily with the effect of these additional elements on the alpha-iron phase and the boundary between this phase region and the alpha plus sigma two-phase region. The sigma phase is a ternary solid solution based upon the compound FeCr. The work was performed mainly by X-ray methods, but a number of microscopic examinations were also made and are reported. While isolated alloys in the composition ranges studied may have been discussed in metallurgical publications, no systematic investigation of any assistance to us was found. Of the earlier work, the investigations on the iron-chromium-carbon system and on the chromium carbides by Westgren and his coworkers2'3 enabled us to identify the carbide phase. Several articles appeared after the present experimental work had been completed. Lucas and Wintrup4 determined the solubility of carbon in molten iron-chromium-silicon alloys. Tofaute and his coworkers5'6 have made detailed studies of the iron-chromium-carbon system, which will be referred to later. Materials and Methods Materials.—The iron, chromium and silicon used were essentially the same as those used in the investigation of the ternary system.l The

Jan 1, 1938

By C. O. Burgess, W. D. Forgeng

The results of an investigation of the ternary system iron-chromium-silicon were reported in 1936 by the present authors.l Partly for the sake of theoretical interest, and partly because of the possible commercial importance of these alloys, the present investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of some of the commoner elements likely to occur, deliberately or otherwise, in such alloys if made on a commercial scale. The elements thus added were carbon, nickel or manganese. The alloys studied were, therefore, parts of quaternary systems. This investigation was concerned primarily with the effect of these additional elements on the alpha-iron phase and the boundary between this phase region and the alpha plus sigma two-phase region. The sigma phase is a ternary solid solution based upon the compound FeCr. The work was performed mainly by X-ray methods, but a number of microscopic examinations were also made and are reported. While isolated alloys in the composition ranges studied may have been discussed in metallurgical publications, no systematic investigation of any assistance to us was found. Of the earlier work, the investigations on the iron-chromium-carbon system and on the chromium carbides by Westgren and his coworkers2'3 enabled us to identify the carbide phase. Several articles appeared after the present experimental work had been completed. Lucas and Wintrup4 determined the solubility of carbon in molten iron-chromium-silicon alloys. Tofaute and his coworkers5'6 have made detailed studies of the iron-chromium-carbon system, which will be referred to later. Materials and Methods Materials.—The iron, chromium and silicon used were essentially the same as those used in the investigation of the ternary system.l The

Jan 1, 1938

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period of July 10, 1917, to Aug. 10, 1917. ARNOT, STANLEY L., Engr., Plymouth Cons. Gold Mines; Ltd., Plymouth, Amador Co .2 Cal. BARRETT, LESLIE PARK, Asst. Geol.... Michigan Geological Survey, Lansing, Mich. BENNIE, JOHN WILLIS Gen'l. Mgr., Shannon Copper Co., Clifton, Ariz. BRINTON, OWEN FUGATE Mgr., Admiralty Zinc Co., Quapaw, Okla. BRODERMANN, JORGE, Civil Engr., Compania Minera San Francisco, Havana,Cuba. BROWN, RICHARD HENRY JR., Sales Engr., Ingersoll Rand Co., 300 N. Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. BROWN, STANLEY Chile Exploration Co., Chuquicamata, Chile. BUDDECKE, WILLIAM A Pres., Point Milling & Mfg., Co. Mineral Point, Mo. BURGESS, GEORGE K., Physicist and Chief, Division of Metallurgy, Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

Jan 9, 1917